OFFICIAL NEW NISSAN MICRA

REVEALED Japanese manufacturer's long-running supermini is reborn as an electric vehicle based on the new Renault 5, and it will arrive in showrooms later this year

- Jordan Katsianis

YOU'RE looking at the striking new Nissan Micra, the iconic supermini that's morphed from a simple, inexpensive combustion-powered supermini into a much larger and more sophisticated EV. However, if you take a step back and look past its oversized glowing spectacles, you'll notice that it draws a certain resemblance with the new Renault 5, with which it shares its platform.

But that's no bad thing, because the latest Renault 5 is one of our favourite superminis. So while the Micra might lack a little originality, Nissan had a brilliant base to work with when making its all-new car something that will appeal to customers looking for an inexpensive, spacious and well designed electric vehicle.

The latest Micra will arrive at the end of 2025 and although UK pricing has yet to be announced, we expect it will stick close its French cousin, kicking off at around £22,500 and topping out at a touch under £30k.

Nissan will present the Micra with two powertrains initially, both packing a single, front-mounted motor with one of two battery sizes. The first is a 52kWh pack, which powers a 152bhp motor driving the front wheels, matching the Renault 5 on which it is based. Nissan hasn't announced any official performance figures, but the new car should match the R5 with an eight-second 0-62mph time.

Nissan will also offer buyers a 40kWh model matched to a slightly less powerful 120bhp e-motor. Its 0-62mph time will be about a second slower than the 152bhp car’s, but nine seconds is still good for a supermini.